Category Archives: Weather

Post navigation

The city posted this notice after disconnecting a sprinkler system this week on Woodland Way because of a violation. (Photo by Valerie Wigglesworth)

Outdoor watering restrictions dominated the discussions at the Frisco Town Hall meeting on Monday.

A lot of the questions centered on the Frisco City Council’s recent decision to accept a recommendation by the North Texas Municipal Water District and restrict outdoor watering to every other week. The new restrictions begin June 29.

City manager George Purefoy said Frisco represents about 10 percent of the water use in the district. He said he believed that if Frisco didn’t join in the every-other-week watering restrictions, then other cities would abandon the practice as well. Purefoy said he didn’t think the other cities would conserve as much water as Frisco does with its practices. So the decision was made to benefit the region as a whole. “It was really an effort to conserve water as best we can during this very dry period,” Purefoy said.

Residents will be allowed to use outdoor sprinklers on their regular trash day once every two weeks. Click here to see the watering schedule.

Some people also wondered how the city could continue to allow new homes to be built, which adds even more water users and new landscaping to the system. Frisco Mayor Maher Maso said the amount of water going to serve Frisco’s growth is very small when compared with how much water existing residents use with outdoor sprinklers.

The broader message on Monday was for residents to turn off their automatic sprinkler systems and water their lawns only when needed. The city sends out weekly emails letting residents know how much watering is needed based on Frisco’s weather station data. (Sign up for the weekly emails here).

The rules allow homeowners to water their lawns with a handheld hose any day of the week for up to two hours a day – residents must be out there physically holding the hose and directing the spray. Soaker hoses for foundations and landscaping are also allowed for up to two hours a day. Watering with a manual sprinkler attached to a hose falls under the every-other-week watering restrictions. No watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. when the possibility of evaporation is greatest.

Residents can do their part by turning off their sprinklers and using the city’s watering recommendations as a guide. People can also report water violators by filling out the online form here or calling 972-292-5800. The city will shut off the sprinkler systems for violators and post a notice in the yard (see above). A $25 fee will also be added to the customer’s next water bill. That fee can be waived if the homeowner signs up for a free irrigation checkup from the city.

More than 1,200 violations have been issued so far this year. But Frisco Public Works Director Gary Hartwell said the city’s efforts aren’t about enforcement. They are focused on educating residents about the restrictions and how to conserve water.

The goal is to conserve enough water so that even if the drought continues, the city and others won’t have to go to Stage 4 water restrictions, which ban all outdoor watering.

Click here to view the video from Monday’s meeting with a Q&A on the watering restrictions as well as updates on trash and recycling collections and road construction. And click here to learn more about the city’s water restrictions.

“With severe weather in the forecast, for safety reasons we did not want our partner team to drive to and from Frisco today,” RoughRiders team president Scott Sonju said in a statement. “Though we are all disappointed, the RoughRiders, Express and Rangers all agree that this is the right decision.”

Team officials say the game will not be rescheduled. Those with tickets to tonight’s game that was to be played at Dr Pepper Ballpark may exchange them for any other RoughRider home game this season. Fans may call 972-731-9200 with questions on the ticket exchange policy.

The RoughRiders’ regular season begins this Thursday against the Arkansas Travelers. After a six-game road trip, the team will play its first home game of the season is at 7 p.m. April 11 against the Travelers.

Motorists need to use caution while driving in all this rain today. Watch out for areas where water is pooled. For those of you in the Frisco area, note that 4th Army Memorial between Lebanon and Stonebrook Parkway is temporarily closed due to high water.

Just remember this NOAA National Weather Service campaign – Turn Around Don’t Drown – that warns people of the hazards of walking or driving a vehicle through flood waters. Click here to learn more.

Frisco residents dealt with more power outages and snapped tree limbs than Plano citizens in yesterday’s torrent, but Frisco’s neighboring city still witnessed a sizable storm.

Here’s a look at what happened next door. You can find out more throughout the day about the storm’s affect on Plano here.

“It was significant,” said Cpt. Floyd Jones from the Plano Fire Department. Two chimneys toppled, a power pole snapped, patches of the city lost power, and several fences came down. The storm even temporarily jeopardized the department’s communications network, said Jones.